5c Worth of Privacy and Tablets

The issue of online privacy is definitely one of the most debated issue in our contemporary society. I believe that the norm when it comes to online privacy is constantly shifting. Will is drastically change? Perhaps. Perhaps not. I guess, we will go through a lot of hits and misses before we can finally settle on what is crossing the line when it comes to privacy. Or maybe not. This may be one of the issues that will never have a conclusion.

But one thing is for sure, we are evolving. The online community is constantly learning. This online public sphere is definitely shaping our everyday lives.

I have stumbled upon a lot of sites and videos dedicated to such topic. But one of the interesting ones that I have found is the website, Weekend Pictures, where it focuses on online privacy and some of the most important information that us, online users, need to know.

Moving on...

About last week's tutorial discussion about the 'One Tablet per Child', my 5 cents worth would be... it's ridiculous. Well, I love the thought and the advocacy of helping out children in the Third World countries, but here are some of the reasons why I would not personally support the idea based on my personal view and by considering some of my personal experience:

1. Coming from a Third World country myself (from a Southeast Asian country), I have seen what the children are. I know, from my experience, what they immediately need. I spent hundreds of hours volunteering as an educator. And giving them a tablet and forcing them to learn through this tablet would not be the cleverest idea as of now. For the following reasons:

a. Security - Crime and security issue are a serious matter in Third World countries. Say, if you give this child a tablet, I bet someone will steal it from him or her because it is after all worth something. It techie, it's new--- it'll catch the attention of the criminal. In my country, you could not even put out your cellular phone in public. Anywhere you go you are always on a lookout for someone who wants to steal it from you. Whether it's a brick NOKIA or an iPhone 4, desperate people calls for desperate crimes. So I'm guessing that by giving this valuable item to children would not be the greatest idea to protect their safety.

b. Corruption and Transparency - I don't want to sound more pessimistic here, but that's one of the issues that the organisation that's advocating the tablet drive should look very closely at. Based on my experience once again, a LOT of donated educational material from abroad did not make it to the hands of the children in need. Where did they end up? You figure that out.

c. Culture - Technology and education are good. But my question is, what will those tablet contain? Will it be fully filled with Western ideas and thoughts? I love Western ideas. And I love the fact that we have a lot of individual cultures. So, I say, they must make sure that those tablets contain a well-balanced information. Globalisation is good, but if it means slowly erasing and/or neglecting other cultures, then it will definitely be a huge problem.

d. Moral issues - Would they force such technology to those who do not need them? To those who did not even ask for it?

2. Surely, if I were to choose projects that I would personally support, this will definitely not be on my top list. Firstly, if we want change and if we want to help out, we need to focus on more important issues like quality education, more teachers, more classrooms, safer environment, food for the children (especially solving malnutrition) and health, et cetera. Making sure that those children get the latest technology just for the sake of keeping up with the rest of the world would not be the best solution. If you want them to learn more about technology and modernisation, giving them each a tablet is not the way to go. Maybe in the future. Definitely in the future, but there are more important issues that we need to focus our energy (and money) before we move on to that stage.

3. Environmental issue.

4. Power issue.

5. Internet connection issue.

6. State sovereignty issue (Political and Developmental issues) - Just a quick thought on this one, I won't ponder on it too much as it will be too political. But if the international organisations are already having the most difficult time convincing other states that their humanitarian aid is good for them, then how feasible is this project be if we were to ask some nations if we can intervene in their society and give their children these technology. dot dot dot

Okay, so those are just some of my reasons why I'm not a big fan of the project. Don't get me wrong, I would like to see everyone progress. I would love to see that the children around the world will have the opportunity to take part in our contemporary technology. But let's be real. Let's not forget the other important details worth considering. Helping is good, but if it will also result to more problems like security, culture issues, moral issues, etc, then we should definitely pause for a second and try to review those matters before heading off to this sprint. Moreover, like I said, there are more important issues that needs our focus other than giving cool gadgets to children. Like one of the entries on this blog mentioned, let's teach the fisherman how to fish and not just give him/her a fish... etc etc etc

Well, that's my 5 cents worth. An opinion from a girl who came from a Third World country herself. I would like to avoid and not sound too pessimistic, but that's how things are right now, I guess.